I've been looking on eBay and it seems the 3200HD is going for about $330 to $370 or so. If I could get one for the low end of that and say $35 or $40 for shipping (or find one locally and go pick it up) it seems like it would be money well spent <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />.

Kevin,

What size welder? 120 or 208/220 volt?

Its a 120 volt... 135 amp.

www.plans-kits.com/forsale/hobart.html

northerntool.com has them as well.


$399 is a very good price new.

Kevin

I think that for vehicle related welding, the 125v MIG with gas, and an auto helmet would be ideal.

Having done stick, with a regular helmet, on automotive metal, it's not pretty. And very frustrating. It's hard to start the weld within 1/4" of where you want it.
With the auto helmet, the welds will be exactly where you want it.
And with the MIG (with shielding gas, not flux core), the beads will be very sweet.

If I were to start over, I'd actually get the auto helmet first. It's the most important part of my set-up.

...and a good, powerful, 5" grinder. Flap-wheels are your friend! Mine's 12amp, can't do metal work without it.

You can rent welders, but the other stuff...

Oh, and beware 2nd hand welding equipment. There's often a reason it's for sale, and repair$ will scare you. Buy from a retailer that services. The lower-priced units (century/lincoln) are not really servicable.

[/soapbox] [/preachin']

Ditto all Don said. I like flap wheels, both the flattish overplapping ones and the radial ones. I have a 5" Makita, and a Makita BIG electric die grinder for the corners and other tight spots.

I bought the Haynes welding manual, even though I hate Haynes, and it was worth it.

A couple of pairs of those welding magnets to hold your stuff while you tack it are really nice, and save having to hammer-square your work. I also got a lot of use out of c-clamp vise grips, both the wobble clamp and hard clamp type (and they work great for pushing the piston back in caliper on disc brakes), regular vise grips, and the like.

I say that the auto helmet is the best aid for the novice welder, because you can see exactly where the bead will start. The key is extremely steady hands, and a good view of the bead as you weld. The only problem I've had with the auto helmet is a tendency to darken when you look directly at a flourescent light. I'd really like one of the adjustable shade auto hats. Take a good look at the quality of the helmet tilt stuff, too. The hand shield in the kit is worthless, because you always need two hands, even if one is just steadying the other, unless you have the hand tremor control of a brain surgeon.

Anyone know who makes the Craftsman welders?

BTW the Craftman Professional line of angle grinders are made by DeWalt.

I have the Lincoln 3200HD I bought new from e-bay almoust 2 years ago...(I hardware store was clean out some extra stuff) works great, I bought the gas cyl. for it and it works much better then using the flux core wire...I wouldn't even was my time, get the gas cyl right away....I forget what I paid, but I know it was cheaper then the one I saw at the Homedepot a month later....it didn't have a cart, like the one you said at homedepot did... but I know I paid in the real low 300.00 range..

I seem to remember that the Lincoln 110v rig hade some complication with switching between gas and no-gas. Something about a sleeve in the wire feed.

Also look at the Clarke welder for a good value.